Let Us Come Forward for Mercy and Grace

Both God and New Jerusalem have the appearance of jasper stone (Revelation 4, 21). This shared appearance begins now. In 1 Peter 2:4 the Lord is a living Stone. As we come to Him, He makes us living stones (v. 5). Our coming to Him is by drinking the milk of His word.

Our coming is also to His throne. In Hebrews 4:14-16 we have a great, ascended High Priest, Jesus, the Son of God, who has been tempted in all respects like us, yet is without sin. Because of Him, “Let us therefore come forward with boldness to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace for timely help.”

Because the crucified, resurrected, and ascended Jesus is our High Priest, the throne is not for judgement but for mercy and grace. Thank Him! Today the throne is in heaven, as John saw in Revelation 4.

How can we come to the throne of God and the Lamb, Christ, in heaven while we still live on earth? The secret is our spirit, referred to in v. 4:12. The very Christ who is sitting on the throne in heaven (Rom. 8:34) is also now in us (Rom. 8:10), that is, in our spirit (2 Tim. 4:22), where the habitation of God is (Eph. 2:22).*

The throne of grace to which we come forward today will be the throne of God and the Lamb in New Jerusalem. Our receiving mercy and finding grace today prepares us for more mercy and grace in New Jerusalem. As Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us come forward.”